Register and alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. G. LETTELIRR 85.13. E. PRATT.

REGISTER AND ALARM.

. Patented Apr. 1

N. PETERS, Phmlcmgnphen wasningm. n. c.

2 Sheets-Shet J. G. LETTELIER 8v E. E. PRATT.

(No Model.) l

REGISTER AND ALARM.

Patented Apr. 1

. 'ord access to the upper series of indicator- 'machinery the movements oi" which it is del.Nrrsn STATES PATENT r iien.

JOHN G. LETTELIER AND EDVIN E. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EilEGlS''EFi AND ALARM. ll

SPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,19l, dated April l, 1884.

Application led September 2S), 1983.

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that we, JOHN G. Ln'r'rnmnn and EDWIN E. PRATT, oi Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Registers and Alarms, o1" which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an instrument to register the number of movements or impulses which may be imparted thereto mechanically or otherwise, which may be adjusted to sound an alarm when the registration reaches any predetermined number, and which will indicate at all times the remaining numbers to be registered before the sounding of the alarm.

The instrument vis more particularly applicable to printing-presses and other classesof sired to register.

The invention consists in various details of construction. relating to the registering-wheels and to the alarm mechanism connected therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of our improved instrument, the front of the case being broken away at one end iu order to expose the interior parts to view. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation or the instrument, the end of the body or casing being removed. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principal parts of Fig. 2 in the position in which they appear at the time of sounding the alarm. Fig. 4 is a 1 diagram illustrating the devices by which the operation of the alarm is controlled. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the indicatorwheels; Fig. 6, a view of the same, looking from the opposite side. Fig. 7 is a central cross-section on the line x x of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an external case or body, which may be of any suitable form adapted to receive and sustain the internal mechanism hereinafter described. The front of the body is provided with openings a, through which single numbers on the faces of the indicator-wheels may be viewed. The front of the case has its upper portion, b, hinged, in order thatlit may be opened to af:

wheels for the purpose of adjusting the same. This hinged portion may be provided with a (No model.)

drawings, or other provision may be made for securing the same. f

Vithin the body, upon horizontal shafts,wc mount two series of indicator-wheels, B and C, each having the ten numerals in succession upon its periphery. These wheels may be constructed and provided with appliances of any suitable character by which. each will be caused, on completing a revolutiomto move the next one so as to bring the next succeeding number into View.

In'the drawings we'have represented the wheels as constructed with teeth or notches lon one side, and combined with intermediate dogs or detents, in the manner described in the application for Letters Patent of the United States iled by J. G. Lettelier on the 27th day of December, 1882, No. 80,207, to which rei'- erence may be made for a detailed description thereof. Ve may substitute for this peculiar construction either of the many constructions with which those skilled in the art are familiar, the only essential requirement being that each wheel shall communicate motion to the next at the proper intervals. The lower wheels, B, are designed to register the numbers consecutively from one upward, while the wheels O, on the contrary, are designed to commence at the highest number to be re- So corded and register thence downward. tion is commiiicated to the wheels B by combining with the iirst or right-hand wheel of the series a pawl or dog, D, attached to an oscillating sleeve or head, E, which is mounted loosely upon or in line with the shaft by which the wheels 'are sustained, and extended 0utward through the end of the body or casing, to receive an operating-lever, which is secured rigidly to its outer end. The vibration or" this lever causes the pawl D to be advanced and retracted in such manner that at each movement the indicator-wheel B is advanced one tooth. The Wheels C have motion imparted to them in like manner by a pawl, G, acting in the teeth of the first or right-hand wheel of the series, this pawl being attached to and carried by an oscillating head, H, mounted upon or in line with the shaft which supports the wheels. The head H is provided with an arm, c, having on one side a stud or pin,which hasp to receive a lock, as represented in the enters the slotted end of an arm, d, formed on I OC) the pawl-carrying head .ll arms motion is communicated from the head E to the head H, and thus the two pawls D and G- are caused to operate simultaneously, whereby the two series of wheels are turned in unison and caused to register an equal number of times. The two series of wheels have their peripheral numbers arranged upon them in the same order of succession, but the pawls are arranged to turn the two series of wheels in opposite directions, the result being that the wheels B indicate suceessively'increasing numbers, while the upper series indicate successively lower numbers.

In operatin g the apparatus the Lipper wheels, C, are first adjusted by hand to indicate the number which it is desired to register, the wheels oil the lower series meanwhile standing at zero. Upon setting the parts in action, the lower wheels will gradually register upward and the upper wheels downward, as before stated, until finally, when the predetermined number ot' registrations has been el"- fected, the wheels ol' the upper series will stand at zero and the wheels of the lower series stand at a given number.

For the purpose or' giving audible notice when the registration is completed, we combine with thc parts above described an alarm mechanism so arranged as to be operated automatically at the proper time. The alarm device consists, essentially, oi" a bell, I, and a striker, J, the latter secured upon one end of a rock-shaft, K, which is acted upon by a coiled spring, L, tending to turn the shalt when released in such manner as to sound the bell. Near one end the rock-shalt is provided, as shown in Figs. l and 3, with a cross-arm, j', one end ol which is in such position that when the rock-shalt is released said end will be acted upon by the teeth ol" the first or units wheel, B. The teeth of this wheel in passing the end of the arm will force the same backward, and thereby turn the rock-shaft so as to lil't the bellstriker against the action oi' the spring. As the tooth is carried past the end ol' the arm by the rotation of the wheel the arm is released, whereupon the spring causes the bell to be sounded.

For the purpose of holding the arm j" out of contact with its operatingwheel, and thus preventing the alarm until the proper moment has arrived, we mount upon the shaft which carries the upper indicator-wheels, C, an oseillating plate, M, having at the rear edge anA arm, g, which acts behind the bell-operating arm f, so as to throw said arm out oll th path of its actuating-wheel B. This plate M ias a projection or finger-piece, 71., extended outward through a slot in the front ofthe case, so that by elevating said finger-piece the plate may be turned and the arm r/ placed in position to keep the alarm out of action, as before described.

For the purpose of locking the plate M in the required position, we pivot to the inside of the case a laterallyswinging arm, N, hay- By means oi these l ing a shoulder to engage behind the fingerpiece ofthe plate, as shown in Fig. 4L, a spring, t. being connected with this arm to hold it in engagement.

For the purpose ol effecting autonnitieally the disengagement of the lockingarm N at the proper time, we employ, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 4, a vertically-swinging bar, O, having a beveled end, j, to act against a corresponding incline on the side oi" the arm, as represented in Fig. 4L. This bar, which hasiis pivot l.: at the rear edge, is urged upward by means of a spring, l, and is provided at its upper surface with a number of studs or projections, on., as clearly represented in Figs. l, 2, and 4, designed to enter corresponding notches formed in the periphery of the wheels (l, beneath which the bar is extended. The notches in the wheels C are arranged in such positions that when all the wheels indicate zero the notches will be in position to admit all ol the studs on the bar O, thereby allowing said bar to swing upward under the inl'luence of its operating-spring, so that its beveled end may 4disengage the arm N from the plate M. The action oi' these parts is as follows: Supposing it be required to register 10 before sounding the alarm, the wheels C are adjusted to indicate the number lO. This adjustment ol' the wheels causes their notches to be turned out of li ne with the corresponding studs on the bar O, the studs being thus compelled to ride outward upon the periphery oi' the wheels, thereby forcing the bar O backward or downward and holding it in such position. This depression oi` the bar O throws its end away from the inclined surface of the arm N, leaving the latter free to lock the plate M, which is next turned by hand to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that its rear arm, y, will hold the alarm, out oi' action, as before explained. The parts remain in this position until the instant that the number l() is registered, at which time thenotches oi' the wheels C, being brought opposite the studs on the bar O, permit the latter' to rise under the influence or' its spring. The bar in rising forces backward the arm N releasing the plate M. This plate, acted upon through the spring of the alarm mechanism, immediately turns to the position represented in Fig. 3, its arm g moving backward, and leaving the alarm in position to be operated by the next movement of the register-wheels B, which continue to operate as long as the actuating-arm F is vibratcd. The alarm being thus set i'ree will continue to sound at the registration oi" each additional number unless the upper wheels, C, or one of them is again turned backward from zero.

Inasmuch as the wheels C register down` ward to Zero, it is necessary that their action shall be positively stopped when that point is reached, although the register mechanism may continue to operate, as otherwise the wheels would be caused to give a false indication.

For the purpose of automatically arresting the motion of the wheels C at zero, we pro- IOO TIO

vide the before-mentionedplate M with a sur- By bringing different notches in connection face, s, which, as the plate turns forward to release the alarm, rides between the pawl G and the wheel C, thus lifting and holding the pawl -out of engagement with the wheel, so that the wheel will remain at rest notwithn standing the continued movement of the pawl. The plate is also provided with 4an inclined surface, t, to ride beneath the end of the detent u, so as to lift said detent out of engagement and leave the wheel free to be turned by hand, as may be required in adjusting the same .to the required number previous to the commencement of operations. It will thus be seen that the plate M serves the double purpose of throwing the operating pawl and dog out of action, and of holding the alarm mechanism out of action with its operating-wheel.

In order to admit of the lower series of wheels, B, being readily adjusted to zero when required, we extend the shaft upon which they are mounted tharough one end of the body, and provide its extremity with a crank or handle, P, by which it may befturned. The wheels are mounted upon the shaft in such manner as to revolve freely in a forward direction, but are prevented from turning backward thereon by means of pawls fw, which are pivoted to the respective wheels and arranged to engage in a longitudinal groove, a', formed in the shaft, as shown. The free ends /of the pawls pass through guiding-slots formed in the hubs of the wheel, and are held in engagement by means of springs y, as shown in Fig. 6. The parts 'are arranged in such manner that when the pawls are all in engagement like numbers will be inline throughout the entire series of wheels. The instrument having completed its registration, it is only necessary in order to restore the wheels to the starting-point to turn the shaft in the forward direction, the effect being to engage and turn the wheels one after another until their numbers are all brought into line, after which the seriesA as a whole may be revolved until they indicate Zero.

In order to prevent interference with the registration at improper times or by improper persons, we propose to provide the crank P and the bar O with perforatipns, through which the hasp of a padlock may pass to secure the crank immovably in position.

In practice it is found that the different circumstances under which instruments of this class are applied necessitate the arrangement of the operating-arm in different positions to admit of connection being readily made with the prime mover. f

To permit the convenient adjustment of the arm, we adopt the construction plainly repre sented in Fig. l. The arm f has one end slipped over the protruding end or journal of the hub E, and is secured thereto by a pin, j". The outer edge of the arm is provided, as shown, witha series of notches, f, to receive the pin which is extended through the head and seated at its ends in the notches.

with the pin the arm vmay be secured so as to extend from the operating-head in any required direction.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a registering mechanism, the combination, with intermediate connecting and operating devices, substantially as described, of

a series of wheels to register increasing numbers, and a series of wheels to indicate decreasing numbers, said series being adjustable independently of each other.

2. In combination with the alarm and the devices, substantially as shown, for operating the same, the series of notched indicatorwheels C, the bar O, provided with studs to enter said notches, and intermediate mechanism whereby said bar is caused to hold the alarm out of action, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a series of register wheels and an alarm mechanism, a bar for holding said alarm mechanism out of action, extending across and acted upon by the entire series of wheels, substantially as described, whereby the bar is prevented from releasing the alarm, except when all the registered wheels stand at the zero-point.

4. In combination with the wheels B, the oscillating head E, having the arm d, wheels C, and the oscillating head H, provided with the arm c.

5. In combination with the indicator-wheels C, the bar O, bar N, and rotary plate INI, and the alarm mechanism connected with said plate, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the indicator-wheels C and the bar O, controlled thereby, the rotary plate M, acted upon by the bar O, and bar N, provided with means to throw the operating-pawl G out of action, substantially as described.

7. In a registering mechanism, the oscillating collar E, provided with a pawl by which the registering devices are operated, in c0mbination with the arm f, provided with a series of notches and a locking-pin, whereby a rotary adjustment of said arm with respect to the head is permitted.

S. The bell, its striker, the rock-shaft and spring to operate said striker, the arm upon said roclcsliaft, and the wheel to actuate the same, combined with the wheels C, bar O, rotary plate M, and intermediate devices connecting said plate with the bar O, Ysubstantially as described.

9. In combination with the indicator-wheel C, its operating-pawl c, and detent a, the rotary plate M, constructed as described, to dis` engage both the pawl and detent.

. JOHN G. LETTELIER.

EDVIN E. PRATT. lVitnesses:

FRANK C. SMITH, HARRY PA'rrnRsoN.

IOO

IIO 

